Conveyer.



C. D. SEEBERGER GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZO, 190a. RENEWED FEB. 27, 1905.

LMAQD I Patented; Jan. 9, 1912.

' SHEETS-SHEET l.

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C, D. SEEBERGER.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZO, 190s. RENEWED FEB. 27, 1905.

LQMJQQD v Patented Jan.'9,1912.

l wwaw 0. D. SEEBERGER.

UONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.20, 1903. RENEWED FEB. 27 1905. 1 14 1 B Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CONVEYBR. APPLICATION FILED JAN.20, 1903. RENEWE 4, 1 000 D FEB. 27, 1905.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

GJJQSEEBBRGBR.

GONVEYER.

4 APPLICATION FILED JANJO, 1903. RENEWED FEB. 27,1905. LQEQ JQQ Patented Jan.9,1912.

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Specification of LettersPatent.

.To all whom it may coma-n: 1 I Be-it known that I, Crmnnns D. Sm:- BERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New.York, inIthecounty of New "York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improyements in Conveyers, (Case No. 15,) of WlllCll the followingjis a-specification,-

My present invention is concerned with,

certain improvements in conveying appa- :.ratus, such astraveling. Stairways, and is designed to produce a device of the class described in which'thetrack, as it-.were, shall wheels which rollon, stationary "be movable instead of stationary, as these devices have beenhitherto constructed. Instead of supplyingithe steps or carriers with tracks, I

, provide bearingsurfaceslonsaid steps or earners which contactwith and are carried forwardby'suit ble rollers mounted in' stationary bearings anddriven at a rate of speed in which the'horizontal component of movement of the steps isuniform on the different portions so that the chain of steps or carriers will be moved forward continuously and evenly on the horizontal landings as well'as the inclined ascents and descents.

[Another feature 1 of my invention is. a

systemof connections between the steps by -which the customary swinging links hereto'fore employed may, be dispensed with,

and the steps connected directly to, each other by slotted pin-connections so that they cooperate directly with each other andwith the tracks -u on which they move so as to be held there y in position with their tread surfaces horizontal and uppermost on the landingsand inclines without the .employ- .ment of some form of theparallel. linkage system heretofore considered essential for this class of devlces.

My invention is further concerned with i a -traveling stalrway system in which the "steps in pasing from the horizontal to the inclined portions movevertically upward in a straight line relative to the adjacent steps instead of in acurved line as necessitated by the constructions heretofore employed. By this mechanism I amenabled to employ a straight rigidriser instead. of the curved one which has been heretofore necessary in order to prevent anyivergence between the nose of one step and the riser of the step in advance of it'm. passing from the inclined portions to the horizontal.

- To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto five .sheets'of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to desig.-' nate -1dent1cal parts in all the figures, of'

which- F1gure1 is a'-side elevation, somewhat v Patented J an. 9,1912.vv "Application fi1edIalnnary'20, 1903,- Srial.No..139,774. Renewed February 27, 1905. Serial No. 247,539.

diagrammatic in its nature, of the upper 2; Fig. 5 is-a similar view in section on'the irregular line CC of Fig. 1 Fig.6 is a sunilarview-on the line D-D of- Fig. 2;

.and Fig. 7 4 is a view of a portion of the structure shown 1n Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, and with the partsin a ditferentposi- The system is .supported between the structural plates 10, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, which may have the angle iron strips 11- along the upper and lower edges thereof.

The steps are composed of the tread surfaces 12, with" which the straight risers 13 may be integral, the angular side pieces 14:, and the bearing flanges 15, the function and structure of which will be more fully explained elsewhere. The side pieces 14 are provided with the elongated vertical slots 16, with which the rods 17 extending mwardly across the step between the offset ears'18 constituting the forward angles of the side pieces 14, coiiperate. The 'lower' edges19 of the side pieces 14 are preferably beveled to cooperate witl1 the correspond:

ingly grooved peripheries of the supporting and driving wheels 20.

ploying the beveled edges of the side pieces,

It will be" apparent that instead of em-" and grooved peripheries of the driving wheels, I mightuse rack teeth on the bottom of the side pieces 14 and cooperating gear teeth on the peripheries of the wheels 20..

These wheels 20 are disposed in a line at an angle to the horizontal corresponding with-the angle it is desired to give to the ascending portion of the steps, and'are mounted to rotate on bracket bearings 21 projecting inwardly from the plates These wheels-'20 are preferably spaced apart uniform distances, which are, as seen in Fig. 2, slightly less than the length of the under side of one of the steps, so that each step is during a ortlon of the time supported by two whee s on each side. To drive these wheels 20 in unison, I preferably employ the vworm gears. 22- rigidly secured thereto,

which are driven by the worms 23 secured on the shaft 24 mounted in the bea'rings 25 suitably supported by extensions from-the 32 which are similar to the wheels 20, but which are designed to cotiperate with the steps on the upper landing, and have their grooved. or toothed peripheries coiiperating with the bevels or toothed bearing edges 33 of the previously "mentioned. supporting fianges 15. As the wheels 20 cotiperate with the hypotenuse of the right angled triangle formed ,by the steps while the wheels 32 cooperate with the'sides thereof, it is necessary to rotate the wheels 20 at a proportionately greater peripheral velocity than the wheels 32, for which reason it will be observed that the worm gears 31 are of "proportionally greater diameter than the worm gears22- so that the wheels 32 are rotated at a proportionately slower peripheral velocity than the wheels 20.

While all of the rollers 20 and 32 for the ascending run are shown and described as driven,' 1t is obvious that this-need. not necessarily be so, but that some of these rollers may be idlers and merely employedv to support the steps. p

To carry the steps around the ends, I provide the spiders 34 at the lower end and the similar spiders 35 at the up er end. These spiders are mounted on sha s journaled in suitable bearings provided in the plates 10, and have the yokes 36 at theirends in the right position and shape to cooperate with the rods 17 extending across the forward ends of the steps and risin and falling in the slots 16- previously re erred to and in the corresponding slots 38 formed in the bearing brackets- 15. The positions assumed by the steps in passing around the.

ends as they are carried by these spiders are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and needs no further explanation. The spiders are driven by the worms 39 and 40 formed on the outer ends of the shafts 24 and 27, respectively, and meshing with the worm gears 41 and. 4-2 secured on the shafts on which the spiders are mounted. The worms 39 and 40 are, as seen, of finer pitch than the'worms 23 and 30, and the pitch of the worms and the diameters of the worm gears 41 and 42 are properly proportioned so that the steps will be carried around the ends from the plates 10 at the rate of speed corresponding to their portions. v

I As the steps descend on the-incline, they are supported by the antifriction rollers 43, which preferably have their peripheries grooved in a curve, and are supportedby the brackets 44 secured to the sides of the plates 10.. Theisteps are supported on these rollers 43' during their descent by means of the correspondingly grooved bearing edges 45 projecting downwardly (during the de- 'movement on the inclined and horizontal scent) from the outer edge'of the flange 46 pro ecting from the side" pieces 14' parallel to thebearing edges 19. The steps are also supported, but preferably not driven, on the lower horizontal landing by means of they rollers 47 journaled upon. suitable pintles 48 projecting inwardly from the plates 10 and cotiperating. with the same horizontal bearing portion 33 onthe brackets 15 that the wheels 32.co5perate with. .To prevent the lifting of the chain of steps at the lower landing where they pass from the landing to the incline, I provide on each side the antifriction rollers 49 which are journaled on' hearing studs 50 projecting inwardly and cotiperati'ng with the upper surface 0 the flange 46 as clearly shown in Fi 2. To support the steps-on from the spider 35'until they are su ported by the wheels 43, I provide a set 0 rollers .51, preferably having their peripheries orte grooved,- and sup by the brackets 52, best shown inFig. 5, projecting inwardly from the plates 10, and cotiperating with the bearing'edge 53' formed on the under surface (in that osition) on the flange 54 projecting from t eouter sides of the brackets -15 immediately adjacent to and parallel to the bearing surfaces 33 thereof. To lift the step just passing into the horizontal upper landing, after it' has passedbeyond the uppermost of the wheels 20, I 1 rovide'the cam mechanism best shown in igs. 1, 5 and 6, where it will be seen that I provide a shaft 55 journaled in suitable bear-- mgs in the plates 10, and having the worm the under si e from the time they are freed gears 56 thereon in the position to be en- 115 gaged by the worms 57 on the shaft 27. Located on the shaft 55 in the plane of the plates 15 are two cams 58, preferably having the grooved eripheries and cotiperating.

with the bearmgsurfaces 33 on the'plates 15. The position of the cam atthe time that the step is released from the uppermost wheel-20 and is ready to be supported and raised by'the cam is shown in Fig. 7, and

it will be apparent thatthe continued mov'e- 5 ment'bf-the cam from the position shown in that figure to that shown in Fig. 1- will serve to advance the step and at the same time raise it to the necessary level to "be carried toand caught by the first-wheel'32 of 139 totaled the series. The cam 58 has the latter portion of its periphery, from the points 59 to 60, concentric so that the step is merely carried forward during this time until it is caught by the first wheel 32 of the series. The size and pitch of the worm 57 is so related to the worm gear 56 that the shaft 55 is given one complete rotation during the interval of time occupied by the movement of a step through its horizontal length on the landing.

The supporting rollers constitute a way providing inclined and horizontal end portions, so that the steps are in stair formation on the incline but have their treads in hori zontal planes on the horizontal portions to form end landings. v 7 By the structure herein shown and described, it will be apparent that I have produced a device in which the necessity of employing wheels or shoes on each step or carrier is entirely obviated, and also one in which the connections between the steps for holding them in position with their tread surfaces horizontal on the landings and on the ascending inclines is of the simplest possible character.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims, except as maybe necessitated by the state of the prior art.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In a device of the class described, a series of moving steps, and driving members providing a way having inclined and horizontal portions and by which the stepsfare supported.

2. In a device of the class described, a series of moving steps, and rotating members supporting and constituting the drive for the steps and providing a way having inclined and horizontal portions.

3. In a device'of the class described, a series of moving'steps, a way having inclined and horizontal portions, and rotating members located at intervals upon the way for driving and supporting the steps.

4. In a device of the class described, a conveyer having inclined and horizontal portions and consisting of a connected series of moving steps, and rotating driving members for the steps constituting the supports therefor and arranged to form a horizontal and\ inclined way.

5. In a device of the class described, a connected series of moving steps, rotating members mounted in fixed bearings along a Way having inclined and horizontal portions and providing the support for the steps, and means for driving the steps.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the steps or carriers mov mg on an inclined Way, of the driving members therefor constituting tracks.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers moving on an inclined way, of the rotating driving members therefor constituting tracks thereof;

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers moving on an inclined way, of the plurality of driving members therefor constituting tracks thereof.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers mov ing on an inclined way, of theplurality of rotating driving members therefor constituting tracks thereof.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the plurality of driving members therefor constituting the tracks thereof and arranged on different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and inclined stairs, and means for moving said driving members at different rates of speeds on the different angles. 7

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the plurality of rotating driving members therefor constituting the tracks thereof and arranged at different angles so as to form horizontal landings and inclined ascents, and means for rotating said driving members at different peripheral velocities on the different angles for the purpose described.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the plurality of driving members therefor constituting the tracks thereof and. arranged on different angles so as to form horizontal landings and inclined ascents;a single source of driving powef', and connections between said source of driving power and the driving members whereby the driving members are driven at different rates of speeds on the different angles for the purpose described.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the plurality of rotating driving members therefor constituting inclined and horizontal tracks thereof, a single source of driving power, and connections between said source of driving power and the various driving members whereby the latter are driven at different rates of peripheral velocity on said different angles.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with the chain of connected steps or carriers, of the rotating driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, and means for driving said wheels.

- 15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a series of connected steps or carriers adapted to form upper and lower landing portions and an intermediate inclined portion, of driving wheels by which the steps or carriers are supported and moved, said driving wheels being mounted in stationary bearings, and means for driving said wheels.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with the chain of connected steps or carriers, of the rotating driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted,

worm gears connected to said wheels, a com- 'mon shaft provided with aplurality of gears, and means landings and inclined stairs, worm gears connected to said wheels, a shaft extending along said inclined and horizontal portions and having universal joints at the angles thereof, and .worms on said shaft meshing with the worm gears, the relationship between the worms and the gears being arranged so that the peripheral velocity of the driving wheels on the inclined portion varies with relation to the peripheral velocity of the driving wheels on the horizontal portion the length of the inclined portion of the step varies with the horizontal portion thereof.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, means for rotating said wheels to drive-the steps, and spiders .to carry said steps around the ends.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, spiders to carry said steps around the ends, and means for rotating said wheels and spiders to drive the steps.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, spiders to carry said steps around the ends, worm gears on the hubs of said wheels and spiders, and a shaft provided with suitably proportioned .worms for meshing with said worm gears to drive the steps.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers,'of the driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, said wheels'being arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontallandings and stairs, means for rotating said wheels at the proper rates of speed to drive the steps, and spiders to carry said steps around the ends.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination with a series of steps or carriers adapted to form horizontal landing portions at different levels and an intermediate inclined portion, of wheels at the landings and inclined portions carrying and driving the steps, and means for driving said wheels.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the driving Wheels upon which said steps are mounted, said wheels being arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and stairs, spiders to carry said steps around the ends, and means for rotating said wheels and spiders at the proper peripheral velocities to drive the steps.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with thesteps or carriers, of the driving wheels upon which said steps are mounted, said wheels being arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and stairs, spiders to carry said steps around the ends, worm gears secured to said wheels and spiders, and a shaft provided. with worms meshing with said gears, the various worms and gears being properly proportioned to carry said steps forward at a proper rate of speed throughouttheir'cour'se.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the rotating driving members constituting the tracks thereof and arranged to carry said steps upward on an incline, and means for supporting said steps on the return run.

26. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers, of the rotating driving members constituting the tracks thereof and arranged to carry said steps upward on an incline, and means for supporting said steps on the return run consisting of sheaves over which portions of said steps pass.

27. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the steps or carriers pro vided with the inclined and horizontal bearing edges and the bearing flanges parallel and adjacent thereto, of the driving wheels arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and stairs, the inclined bearing edges cooperatingwith the driving wheels on the incline and the horizontal bearing edges cooperating with the driving wheels on the horizontal, sheaves on the return run with which the bearing flanges cooperate, and means for rotating the driving wheels.

28. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers provided with the inclined and horizontal bearing edges andthe bearing flanges parallel and adjacent thereto, ofthe driving Wheels. arranged at different angles so that the.

steps form-horizontal landings and stairs, the inclined bearing edgescotiperating with, the driving wheels on the incline and the horizontal bearing edges booperating with the driving wheels on the landing portions, spiders to carry said steps around the ends of the course, sheaves on the return run with which the bearing flanges cooperate, and means for rotating the driving wheels and spiders at the proper relative rates of speed.

29. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers pro vided with the inclined and horizontal bearing edges and bearing flanges parallel and adjacent thereto, of'the driving wheels arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and stairs, the horizontalbearing edges cooperating with the driving wheels on the landings and the inclined bearing edges cooperating with the bearing surfaces in driving Wheels on the incline, sheaves on the return run with which the bearing flanges cooperate, spiders to carry said steps around the ends, worm gears connected to said driving Wheels and spiders, and. a shaft provided with worms meshing with said worm gears, said Worms and gears being properly proportioned todrive the steps at the proper relative'rates of speed throughout the entire course.

30. A step having a plurality of extended bearings operative in different planes of travel, and driving members therefor constituting the tracks.

31. A step having a plurality of extended bearing surfaces at eachend operative in different planes of travel, and driving members therefor constituting the tracks.

32. A step having angularly disposed diflerent vertical planes and respectively operative while the step is moving in different planes of travel, and driving members therefor constituting the tracks.

33. A step having inclined and horizontal bearings operative while .the step is moving in horizontal and inclined planes, respe'ctively, and driving members therefor constituting the tracks.

- 34. In a device of the class described, a connected series of steps having inclined and horizontal bearing surfaces in different vertical planes, driving supports with which the inclined bearing surfaces cooperate on the horizontal, and which the horizontal bearing surfaces cooperate on the incline.

35. In a device of the class described, the combination with steps or carriers, of driving members constituting a way having horizontal and inclined portions, and means for carrying the steps from one of said porthe proper relative rates of speed through- .out the difierent portions of the course.

tions to the other.

36. In a device of the class described, the combination with steps or carriers, of driving members constituting a way having horizontal and inclined portions, and a 1'0- tating member for carrying the steps from the incline to the horizontal.

driving supports with,

, the

37. In a device of the class described, the combination with steps or carriers, of driving members constituting a way having horizontal and inclined portions, and a rotating cam for transferring the steps from the incline to the horizontal.

38. In a device of the class described, the combination with a way having inclined and horizontal portions, of steps adapted to the way, means for driving the steps, and a cam for transferring the steps from one portion of the way to the other.

39. In a device of the class described, the combination with the'steps or carriers, of the driving members forming horizontal and inclined tracks therefor, and means for carrying located on the incline'over to the driving members located on the adjacent horizontal portion. I

40. In a device of the class described, the

' combination with the steps or carriers, of

the driving members forming horizontal and inclined tracks therefor, and means for carrying said steps from the driving members located on the incline over to the driving members located on the adjacent horizontal portion consisting of a suitably located cam rotated in synchronism with the driving members and cooperating with the steps substantially as shown and described.

41. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers having the vertical slots and pins, the pins of one step cooperating with the slots of the adjacent step, of the driving members for said steps constituting the tracks.

42. In a device of the class described, the

- combination with the steps or carriers having the vertical slots and pins, the pins of one step cooperating with the slots of the adjacent step, of the plurality of rotating driving members for said steps constituting the tracks thereof.

43. In a device of the class described, a series of moving steps having slot and pin connections, and driving members for said steps constituting the supports therefor.

44. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers having the vertical-slots and pins at the ends, pins of one step cooperatingwith the slots of theadjacent step, of the plurality of driving members for said steps consti-- tuting the tracks thereof and arranged on diderent angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and inclined stairs, and means for moving said driving members at 45. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriers having the vertical slots and pins at the ends, the pins of one step cotiperating with the slots of the adjacent step, of the plurality said steps from the driving members I of driving members for said steps constituting the tracks thereof and arranged at different angles so that the steps form horizontal landings and stairs, a'single source of driving power, and connections between sald source of driving power and the driving members whereby they are driven at different rates of speed on the diiferent angles for the purpose described.

46. In a device of the class described, ways arranged to provide inclined and horizontal .most on the landings and incline, and means for driving the steps at different speeds on 7 the different portions of theway, the hori zontal component of which will be the same on the inclined and horizontal portions, the

driving means constituting the step-supports.

47. In a device of the class described, the combination with a continuous chain of steps arranged to produce stairs on the incline and a landing "on the horizontal, of connections between said steps to form them in a continuous chain with their treads horizontal, and driving mechanisms for moving the steps'at different speeds on the different, portions and so that the horizontal component thereof will be the same on the inclined and horizontal portions, the driving means constituting the step-supports.

48. In a device of the class described,'the combination with the steps arranged to constitute the stairs on the inclined portions and the horizontal landings, of the driving members for said steps constituting the tracks thereof, and means for operating said members at such relativerates of speed on the difi'erent portions that the horizontal component of speed will be the same whether on the inclined or horizontal portions.

49. In a device of the class described, a way having angularly disposed portions, steps adapted to the way, and means for driving the steps on each of such portions of the way but at difi'erent speeds the horizontal component of which is the same.

50. In a device of the class described, a' way having horizontal and inclined portions, steps traveling on the way, connections between the steps to hold their treads horizontal, and direct driving members cooperating with the steps on the inclined and horizontal portions and imparting motion atdiflerent speeds the horizontal component of which is the same, the driving members constituting the step-supports.

51. In a device of the class described, a 7

tions, steps traveling on the way, a driving member cooperating with the steps on the incline and a driving member cooperating with the steps on the horizontal, such members moving the steps at different speeds, the horizontal component of which is the same on the horizontal and the incline.

52. In a device of the class described, a way consisting of inclined and horizontal portions, and a series of steps having straight risers, and connections between the steps to hold the treads horizontal and maintain the risers in contact with adjacent steps throughout the transporting run, and direct driving connections for the steps of the conveying run, the driving means constituting the step-supports. v

58. In adevice of the class described, a way consisting of inclined and horizontal portions, a series of driven steps, and pin and slot connections between the steps to maintain the riser of each thereof substantially in contact with the treadof an adj acent step throughout the transporting run, and direct driving connections for the steps of the conveying run, the driving means constituting the step-supports.

54:. In a device of the class described, a way having angularly disposed portions, a series of driven steps traveling on the way, and connections between thesteps holding them in position with their treads horizontal on the different portions of the way andin contact with the riser of an adjacent step and permitting them to move vertically as they pass therebetween, and direct driving connections for the steps of the conveying run, the driving means constituting the stepsupports.

55. In a device of the class described,,a way having inclined and horizontal portions, a series of driven steps traveling on the way, and connections between the steps consisting of a vertical slot in one step and a projectionon an adjacent step adapted to the slot, whereby the steps are adapted to move vertically as the stepspass to and from the inclined portion to maintain the riser of each step incontact with the tread of the adjacent step throughout the transporting run, and direct driving connections for the steps of the conveying run, the driving means constituting the step-supports.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES 'D. SEEBERGER. Witnesses: W. H. BRADY,

. JOHN H, MoELRoY; 

